Improvement in egg-carriers



UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.`

EDWARD L. MUELLER, OF ST. LOIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN EGG-CARRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,791, dated April 15, 1873; application filed February 12, 1873.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. MUELLER, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain Improved Egg-Crate, of which the following'is a specification: Y

The common egg-crate or'carrier consists -of a case containing layers of nests or series of squares formed of pasteboard or similar material, in which the eggs are placed and safely protected from injury. My invention relates to the manner of and peculiar pattern for forming the nests or squares, and to certain detail arrangement and construction `of parts, all of which will now` more fully appear.

Of the drawing, Figurel is a perspective View, showin g a frame orlayer of my improved construction. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the manner, or is a patternshowing the-material folded to form egg-nests. -1 Fig. 3 is a detail section.

The simple and peculiar formation of my improved egg-nests is as follows: A strip of pasteboard or other suitable material has one part thereof folded in manner and form clearly shown in the pattern A, (see Fig. 2.) The corner edges of the strips are bent inwardly, as at a, then, leaving sufficient space, a suitable number of folds are made to create the side wall of squares. This peculiar pattern A creates squares or egg-nests B, but leaves one of their sides open. To close this the same strip is simply refolded so as to form an outer side wall, b. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Thus one section is formed with part of its squares properly closed and part thereof remaining open, but all facing the inner side. To 'close the inner side of the remaining squares B a further section of the completed pattern A is arranged alongside of the first. In this manother, the walls b closing the open squares A until the required size of a frame orI layer C is made. The last open side of squares to the left is closed by a separate side wall or strip, c. (See Fig. l.) To retain in proper position such square B, its side walls, directly in contact with a straight strip, b or c, are 'secured together by ordinary adhesive matter, and, further, the entire frame C can be braced by the pasting of a proper band, C', around it. The frames or layers G are placed, as usual, within a suitable box or case.

The strength of the material used is main# tained and the doubling of part side walls of the squares adds further durability, and the entire frame can thus be handled, lifted out, and returned into the case with ready surety and permanency. Between each layer a dial phragm, c1, interposes. Thishas recesses c2 formed to receive and protect the point of the eggs when vertically seated in ltheir nests. (See Fig. 3.)

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim is- An egg-carrier formed of a series of strips having one portion of each bent a-t right angles and folded, as shown and described, in connection with diaphragm c1, for separating one series from another.

In testimony of said invention I have hereunto set my hand in presenceof witnesses.

` EDWARD L. MUELLER.

Witnesses WILLIAM W. HERTHEL, Umts. ROUSSEAU. 

